English provides the main instrument of learning right across the curriculum. The National Curriculum divides English into 3 components: Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing.

National Curriculum Guide for Parents

Speaking and Listening
Good spoken language and attentive listening are the foundation skills for learning. Children are given every opportunity to discuss and question aspects of their work, as well as being encouraged to express and explore their thoughts and feelings. For younger children imaginative play makes a valuable contribution as do all drama activities throughout school. Stories, the internet, TV, poems and music are used to promote speaking and listening skills. Opportunities for discussion occur in all curriculum areas and our classroom organisation is such that children regularly work collaboratively. Assemblies and concerts provide further opportunities for developing clarity of speech and confidence, when addressing larger audiences.

Reading
Books are an essential part of language development. We aim to encourage children to become confident and successful readers, willing to read both for pleasure and information.

This is achieved through a structured approach using a variety of methods including guided reading. The published schemes we use are Oxford Reading Tree, Storyworlds, Project X and Pearson.

Parents and other adults play an active role in helping children to read. Please see the ‘Reading at Home’ information.

We have a system for teaching phonics using the DfES Letters and Sounds and published schemes, Jolly Phonics and LCP phonics. which children work through to develop their phonic knowledge. Children build up their sight vocabulary through the introduction of decodable and tricky words. Children also use other strategies including phonics, contextual and pictorial clues. These are featured in the wide variety of books which we have available including fiction and non-fiction.

Children read regularly with the teacher and their individual progress is monitored closely and recorded in order to inform future teaching. Children and parents are informed of the book band they are reading. Parents have access to book banding books that they can borrow and return freely.

Writing
Upon entering school, children are encouraged to recognise the purposes for writing. All their efforts are valued and recognised as they record their own experiences.

Children are offered a wide range of writing opportunities throughout school such as stories, letters, lists, instructions, reports, recipes etc. As they develop, children are challenged to structure their writing and to extend their use of vocabulary.

Different styles of writing demand their own style of grammar and punctuation. These are taught systematically, in a way that is relevant and purposeful to each child's stage of development.

A standard of presentation appropriate to each child's level of development is expected. Children learn to hold a pencil and to form letters correctly. Handwriting is taught through agreed styles of letter formation throughout school. Spelling patterns and rules are taught in line with the year group expectations of the curriculum as children progress through school.

Children are encouraged to reflect on their own learning and make suggestions about their next steps.